Mission

To conduct training and instruction in the doctrine, tactics, and techniques of Naval expeditionary warfare, with a focus on
amphibious operations, in order to support operational commanders in maintaining forces ready to project military power from the
sea.

Character

The Command is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, in close
proximity to the largest Navy Base in the World, and to Marine Corps Forces Command. Besides its great
location, another unique strength of EWTGLANT is its Naval Composition and character. 76 Marines, 58 Sailors,
and 33 Civilian personnel make up the internal structure of the command. This small but highly capable staff
of subject matter experts and support personnel support a wide range of training, exercises, and academic
functions for Sailors and Marines throughout the Fleet and operating forces.

Commanding Officer

Colonel John
Barranco, USMC

Colonel Barranco was commissioned through the United States Naval
Academy, graduating in 1993, with a Bachelor of Science in History.
Following graduation he reported to The Basic School as a member of
Delta Company 4-93.

After graduation from TBS, Col Barranco reported to flight school and
was winged in October 1995. In January 1996, Col Barranco reported to
HMLAT-303 in Camp Pendleton, California for AH-1W training. Upon
completing HMLAT-303, he was assigned to HMLA-169 and deployed on three
MEUs with HMM- 161 (1997), HMM-165 (1999) and HMM-163 (2001). While
deployed on the USS PELELIU with the 15th MEU (SOC), the September 11th
2001 attacks occurred and the 15th MEU (SOC) conducted the initial
Marine action in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). Col
Barranco served as the Escort Flight Leader (EFL), the lead attack
pilot, for the invasion. Following OEF Col Barranco reported to Marine
Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona for
duty as an AH-1W instructor pilot. During his tenure at MAWTS, he
deployed to Iraq in 2003 for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) as an augment
member of HMLA-269.

Following MAWTS-1 and a tour on the MAG-39 staff, Col Barranco was
assigned to HMLA- 369 and completed two more tours to OIF in 2005-2006
and 2007. He reported to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Aviation in
February 2008, where he served as H-1 Transition Task Force (TTF) Lead
from February 2008 until April 2010. Col Barranco assumed command of The
Watchdogs of VMU-1 on 13 June 2010 while deployed to OEF. Following a
second deployment to OEF 2011-2012, he turned over command in June 2012
and reported to The Eisenhower School, National Defense University for
Top Level School. Following school, Col Barranco served as the J-33
Homeland Defense Division Joint Operations/Theater Security Branch Chief
from 19 June 2013 to 15 May 2015. From May 2015 until February 2016 he
was the Executive Officer to the Commander of U.S. Southern Command,
General John F. Kelly USMC. Col Barranco was then reassigned to HQMC
Aviation where he served as the APX Branch Head from February 2016 until
August 2016, and as APW-1, the Aviation Programs and Weapons
Requirements Branch Head from August 2016 until July 2017.

Col Barranco is a graduate of the USMC Weapons and Tactics Instructor
Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and a
Distinguished Graduate of The Eisenhower School. He has logged over 3500
hours in the AH-1W. Col Barranco’s personal decorations include the
Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service
Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two individual Air Medals, one
with Combat V, Strike/Flight Air Medal 20th award, three Navy/Marine
Corps Commendation Medals, one with Combat V and two Navy/Marine Corps
Achievement Medals.

Organization

N00: Command Element
The command element includes a Marine Corps Colonel as Commanding Officer, a Navy Captain as Executive Officer, a Sergeant Major, and a Command Master Chief.

Director of Operations & Training
(DOT)
Develops, schedules, and evaluates instruction, administers student management and quota control, performs those staff functions concerned with academic management and general military operations and training. All training falls under the Director, Operations and Training.

N1: Administration
Provides assistance to students in personnel and administration areas to include initial entry into the system, leave, and pay-related issues regarding student travel to and from the schoolhouse.

Relationships

EWTGLANT is a fully integrated Naval command that is subordinate to Commander Carrier Strike Group Four (CSG-4). As a Naval command and because of its unique mission that includes
Marine-focused as well as Navy-focused training, EWTGLANT also has Marine Corps reporting responsibilities.

Authority for scheduling, administrating, quota control, and conducting courses to support training
requirements to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Marine Corps Forces Command, and the Reserve establishment have
been delegated to the Commanding Officer, EWTGLANT.